Pedro Sousa Louro: Art Without Apology – The Abstract Life of a Visionary

For Pedro Sousa Louro, art has never been a choice — it’s been a calling. From a childhood spent immersed in abstract creativity to a detour through modelling and television, his path has always been shaped by vision rather than convention. Now, as his work begins to gain international recognition through major art fairs, private collectors, and even Hollywood collaborations, Pedro reflects on a life that defies categorisation. In this Hinton Magazine cover story, he shares the defining moments, mentors, and mantras that continue to shape his journey — one that fuses personal truth with fearless creativity.

Can you take us back to where it all began—what first inspired you to pursue a career in art, and how did your journey unfold from there

I have been painting and creating abstract art since childhood. The fact that I had two different careers in between is just a fact of life, destiny, and economic outcomes. I was a model and TV presenter before, and this career caused a gap in my creativity. 

I started painting again when I realised that beauty wasn't making money. The fact that I spent two decades creating less art didn't change my way of thinking and creating art. The abstract vision is an element I was born with and will stay until I die. That is my life, a vision of abstraction! I studied at the Chelsea College of Art and the Kensington and Chelsea School of Art. 

Were there any key moments or turning points in your career that really shaped who you are as an artist today?

A few global media recognitions boosted my name in the industry. The Wall Street Journal article Collaboration with Twentieth Century Studios -my paintings in the set design - Movie called "The Amateur" released this month. Selling a few pieces to collectors made my name expand on another scale. The collectors whose identities I can't mention. 

Every artist faces challenges. What were some of the biggest hurdles you encountered, and how did you overcome them?

It's a constant battle, we artists we not selling our art every day, so we can't stop and we must inevitably create even solutions to overcome the problems 

Looking back, who or what had the biggest influence on your artistic style and evolution?

Andrea Branzi had my most significant impact I Emerge Inside the Branzi Family by Andreas' oldest daughter, Ursula Branzi, La Pina from Radio VJ. Pina is a radio voice and a TV presenter in Italy. She's one of my best friends. We met while working as TV presenters on an Italian TV channel. I was a model, and I was cast for a TV channel that was about to be launched. We connected straightaway, and we have become close friends forever. At that time, I lived in a model apartment from the model agency I was working with. It was a challenge for me. We almost had to sleep with our groceries and toothpaste inside the bed because models use and eat everything that doesn't belong to them. I was tired and struggling to live in that environment, and every day, I had to be at the studio to record with a smile on my face.

One day, Pina gave her car keys and said, "Pedrino, go pick up your bags and come and stay with us." I lived with a Branzi family for almost three years and became friends until today.

Andrea had different studios, but when working from home in the home studio, I used to be inside or see him working or reading his art books while he was working, all hours and hours in silence. I became obsessed with his work, with him, with his legacy. I'm probably the most enormous admirer and crazy fan of Andrea Branzi's artist and architecture.

Before I met Andrea, I thought my creative brain and ideas for creating art were not typical and not very understandable to others.

After I met Andrea and became close to his works and himself in person, my artistic nerve system and ideological art creation became one single form, and I have no fear of making what I like and imagine. Seriously, I thought I was crazy for envisioning and creating the art that I do.  

I like all of Andreas' works, but my favourite piece is a drawing of an architectural prospect of a new development city around the capitals for the future population that needs to be rehoused and incorporated into a community, done when Andreas was only 25 years old. That drawing has been exhibited in solo exhibitions with the Guggenheim in New York, the Pompidou in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain in Paris.

I have pictures of his latest drawings before and after COVID that Andrea did before he passed away and his daughters sent me. They have never been exhibited or in public view before and are scandalous to the conventional thinking of the public domain, and I can't say or disclose them with all respect to my friends.

For me, Andrea Branzi was and still is one of the masters of new modern architectural thinking and the expression of contemporary modern art.

I remember hearing Andrea talk about modern art one day, and this phrase changed me forever.

" In arte tu fa quello chi voy e spinge quello chi ti piaci e fare cosi e fare rate ."

Where are you right now in your artistic journey? What are you focusing on in 2025?

I don't have the recognition that I want yet. I'm thrilled and fortunate to have all the people I have worked with before, but I want a lot more but a lot more than that.

 Is being an artist only to sell pretty paintings and beauty that sells in the public domain fast? No, you are an artist because you see and imagine everything from a different perspective of the Statusquo and for me, its the main reason I care about being an artist and want to be recognized in the art game is mostly the way I see the world, the life, the human brain, the physical living I mean all that we are living and tell through my work to all world that we are all crazy, bananas, mad but we are all ONE human beam. We have and should stand up for ourselves as ONE. 

So, having said all of that is a complicated and challenging journey for an artist like myself who doesn't paint pretty paintings to reach fast sales.

Can you share any upcoming projects, collaborations, or exhibitions that you’re particularly excited about for the rest of this year?

Yes. I have been booked this year so far for: 

•May Paris ART WORLD FAIRS at the Grand Palace

•Van Gogh Art Gallery Madrid

• October Austria INNSBRUCK INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR

I'm trying not to be so busy with commitments like I was in the past, and being stressed about the demanding work. So I just accepted these ones until now

As we look ahead to 2026, what are your goals—both artistically and personally—for the next phase of your career?

Personally, I will stay the same way. My life! My Energy. My Soul and My Secrets

My desire to know new things and information about subjects that are entirely invading my existence, my attention to analysing and recording my education, and where I should get all that knowledge about what is happening at that moment are my only obsessions, and they go to the highest level of observation. I'm happy to be like that. 

Professionally. I want to have a bigger studio. If I have a substantial enormous studio? I know my career will conquer the art world. 

Is there a particular direction or new medium you want to explore in the near future?

There is actually. I want to do some work on Cold Wax. A is a technique that is not very famous here in the UK 

Your work has clearly resonated with many. What do you think makes your art stand out or connect deeply with people?

My work contributes to anything connected with contemporary modern art, including anyone inspired by my creativity. I know the level of modern art I create. I'm an artist who has already perfectly understood his artistic language. I want to reference my name and the art I create as a serious career and legacy. I'm not an artist because I have nothing better to do with my life. I'm an artist because I know precisely what I create and the impact that it could have on the public view and the art world. I know very well what I'm doing with my life and creativity. So, being told that I am the most talked-about LGBT artist doesn't make me anything different from other artists. This was written by an art critic a few years ago. What else can I do now? Nothing. But I'm an artist full stop, not a Gay artist for the sake of labelling.

The impact of my work on the public has been divine. People love it my craziness!!  

How has your relationship with your audience evolved over time, and what role do they play in shaping your work today?

I'm glad and thankful for what I have achieved, but my most significant achievement hasn't happened yet 

Pedro’s story is one of resilience, artistic conviction, and a bold refusal to compromise. Whether exploring new mediums or pushing the boundaries of abstraction, his work speaks to the chaos, beauty, and raw honesty of the human experience. As he sets his sights on a larger studio and deeper global impact, one thing is clear: Pedro isn’t just making art — he’s building a legacy. And for those watching, the journey has only just begun.

You can learn more about Pedro Sousa Louro over at https://www.pedrosousalouro.com/